Overview
The beautiful, unspoilt, Papagayo beaches are situated inside Los Ajaches Natural Park on the Southern tip of Lanzarote, close to the resort town of Playa Blanca. Perfect for a relaxing day trip, escaping the hustle and bustle of the busier tourist beaches, these naturally white sand beaches are set in coves nestled within the protected site. The 3 main beaches in this area, Playa de Papagayo, Playa de las Mujeres and Playa de la Cerca, are surrounded by calm, turquiose waters, sheltered by cliffs, with amazing clear views over the sea of Lanzarote's neighbouring island, Fuerteventura which is about 15km away.
Playa de Papagayo
If you haven't been here, you surely have seen the pictures. This outstanding horseshoe shaped beach has to be the most used image for promoting Lanzarote, and rightly so, it's lovely! With calm, inviting, deep blue coloured water, it's a perfect place for cooling off or snorkelling around the lava rock edged bay. To make things even better, the main car park is directly above Playa de Papagayo where there are also a couple of small restaurants overlooking the bay, serving fresh food and refreshments - the freshly squeezed orange juice is a must! From the restaurants and car park it is a short walk down some rugged steps to the beach.
Playa de las Mujeres
Playa de las Mujeres, meaning woman's beach, is the largest of the Papagayo beaches and has an expanse of at least 400m long. The water is shallow, perfect for families, and is crystal clear. From the beach you can watch boats bobbing on the gleaming waters or go exploring around the rocks on the right hand side below the cliffs, or climb to the top of them to see the amazing views of the other Papagayo beaches to the left and Playa Blanca to the right. Please be aware - there is no shade here so it is a good idea to bring an umbrella to protect yourself from the blazing midday sun.
Playa de la Cera
This beautiful beach is situated next to the famous Papagayo beach, to the right hand side of the restaurants. Coming from the car park and cliff tops there is dirt track leading down to Playa de la Cera which is sheltered by giant rocks either side and provides adequate shelter. At low tide, you can even walk to the neighbouring beach, Playa de las Mujeres.
Now you need to know how to get there, right? Don't worry, its a breeze!
By Car
The easiest way to get to the Papagayo beaches is by car. Head towards Playa Blanca on the LZ-2 and take the third exit onto Avenieda A Femés, from here Papagayo is sign posted. The road isn’t a standard road, more of a rocky track, but is fine to drive down, if a little bumpy, and takes around 15 minutes to reach the first beach. I always hire a small car, Fiat Panda, VW Polo, Skoda Citigo etc and have driven this track many times. It is great fun!! There is a small entrance fee of around €5 per car and parking is free. The two car parks are located near the main beaches, the main Papagayo beach car park also has facilities – keep scrolling for more info!
On Foot/ By Bike
If you are feeling adventurous, the walk from Playa Blanca takes around 20-40 mins (or even longer if you stop to take pictures of the amazing views!) to reach the first beach. The walk takes you over the cliffs and down to the first beach, Playa de las Mujeres. The views from here are gorgeous, not only can you clearly see Fuerteventura, if you look back, the white buildings of Playa Blanca and boats bobbing on the sea really stand out against the blue waters and volcanic backdrop. Be sure to take water with you and it’s a good idea to go earlier in the day before the Canarian sun starts beating down. You can also hire a bike and there are many bike rental agencies in Playa Blanca. Daily rental starts at around €10 per day.
By Boat
Why not take a boat tour around the Papagayo beaches before stopping for a swim on Playa de Papagayo? There are numerous boat trips that leave from the harbour in Playa Blanca which sail along the shoreline before anchoring at the main beach. Some are led by independent companies, others by tour operators. The majority have English speaking staff and guides. On average, a 4-hour tour, usually including lunch and drinks costs around €45.
Now you know how to get there, here are some things to consider for an unforgettable trip to Papagayo.........
1) Bring plenty of sun cream and an umbrella for shade.
2) Although there are a handful of restaurants close to the beaches, bring plenty of water and maybe a picnic. The food is delicious but quite expensive and the restaurants become very busy in high season, with long waits for food.
3) Beware of tides - it is possible at low tide to walk between some of the beaches, but this can become very dangerous at high tide.
4) Check the details of your car hire - some rentals DO NOT cover breakdown on these types of road.
5) Don't forget your snorkels and camera!
See you there!
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